I knew John when I was a kid at Woodview park plaza, he owned the pool hall there for some time. Great player. Left handed shot (weirdo) and a great ability to stage events. He might have been a great rock and roll promoter. He used to stage events at his pool hall like “the mask” where he would have one of his buddies come in and hype it up as though he was some kind of mystery pool god. It was corny but he made it fun.
When it came time to play, he was extraordinary. His family’s pool hall at finch main plaza in Toronto had 6X12 tables but at the woodview location they only had 5 1/2 X 11 and he made it look way too easy.
Unfortunately John is no longer with us. I heard he passed away not long after his father passed (Frank Romanelli). I had met his father a couple times… I remember he gave me shit for sitting outside on the concrete saying it would give me hemorrhoids. I didn’t even know what they were but I appreciated the old man giving me advice unsolicited.
I am not that much of a pool enthusiast although I still play (poorly) but I had never seen anyone as good and haven’t since.
